Sunday, July 7, 2013

It is breeding season for sandhill cranes like so many other species. Soon after sandhill crane chicks hatch they leave the nest and follow their parents to learn about their environment and what to eat and how to find food.

Sandhill cranes have a family life that we humans relate to easily. They mate for life, live long lives, stay together as a family unit for many months, including when they migrate, and have a complex system of communication that includes posturing, dancing and many vocals that establish who they are and their breeding and feeding territory, helping to maintain order with their neighbors.

The male sandhill crane below is initiating a dance.

He gets the attention of his chick and the chick responds with excitement.

And tries to imitate the dance.

And practices.

In a few months, this family will join other families in their migration journey to warmer climates where food is available during the winter months. It is during this migration journey that we have the opportunity to see sandhill cranes in Tennessee--a unique population of sandhill cranes known as the Eastern Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes. This population was once on the brink of extinction. With the help of wetland conservation, the establishment of hunting regulations and the sandhill crane's ability to adapt to human presence and smaller territories, this population has made a spectacular come back. That is why Tennessee and visitors have been celebrating sandhill cranes for 22 years at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Tennessee.

There is no other species of bird in Tennessee that creates this kind of spectacle, offers this type of visibility, has a compelling conservation story, and affords us a viewing opportunity that we use to both celebrate and educate the public about wildlife and wildlife conservation in Tennessee.

Once again, a proposed sandhill crane season is on the table in Tennessee. The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is currently receiving comments about this proposed season. The initiative for this hunt comes from a small group of hunters. In fact, less than a majority of hunters in the state approve of hunting sandhill cranes (42%) while 35% are opposed, according to a recent TWRA survey of Tennessee residents. That same survey revealed that 62% of Tennessee residents were opposed to sandhill crane hunting and 62% of wildlife watchers were opposed to hunting sandhill cranes.

Listen to the message in the video below and click on theTake Action Now link that follows. The link will take you to a website with the email addresses of all the commissioners and give you a list of talking points to help you write your letters. We want our Commissioners to know that this is not just about the "impact" to the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes--whether the population can sustain a hunt--this is also about the impact on people who have celebrated and revered sandhill cranes in Tennessee for more than 22 years.

All of the sandhill crane family images in this post were taken by Christy Yuncker at Christy Yuncker Photo Journal Visit her beautiful sandhill crane images and the story of the sandhill cranes that live on her property.

Results of Tennessee Resident and Hunter's Survey on Knowledge of and Opinions on Sandhill Cranes: 62% of residents are opposed to hunting sandhill cranes; only 42% of hunters support and 35% are opposed; 62% of wildlife watchers are opposed.

Bird-banding at Seven Islands State Birding Park--2014

Bird-banding at Seven Islands

Enjoying Gray Jays in Churchill!--2014

Smithsonian National Zoo with one of my Whooping Crane banners and son, John--2014

The Incredible Muir Woods near Stinson Beach, CA--2014

Photo courtesy of Wendy Pitts Reeves

Me and Denali--2012

Photo courtesy of Bob King

For the Love of It...

...the sage sees heaven reflected in Nature as in a mirror, and he pursues this Art, not for the sake of gold or silver, but for the love of the knowledge which it reveals.Sendivogius (1750)

Your Uncapped Creativity...

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly." ----the great dancer, Martha Graham

Tennessee's Majestic Sandhill Cranes

Autumn Birds Note Cards

Welcome!

Vickie Henderson

Artist, writer, photographer and nature enthusiast, I blog about the experiences that inspire my art. My posts include nature observations and my love for the creative process. For more information about my art visit my "More About Me" page.

Whooping Crane Photo Images

Whooping Cranes

Whooping cranes were on the brink of extinction in the early 1940's with only 15 remaining in the population that migrates from their nesting grounds in Canada to the coast of Texas. Today, after many years of help, this population has reached a record number of 266. In order to safeguard this species, biologists are using an innovative method to imprint captive reared Whooping cranes and teach them to migrate behind ultralight aircraft. In this way, Whooping cranes have been restored to the Eastern flyway and a separate wild migrating population has been established. As more and more people have the privilege of seeing these birds, Whooping cranes have become ambassadors for our wetlands and for all species in need of our assistance. Support our wildlife. Select a favorite project, a favorite place, a favorite species and do your part to help our natural world.